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Grains Ministerial Taskforce

Joint (grain & seed) Industry / AQIS Ministerial Taskforce on Export Certification Reforms

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Hon Tony Burke MP, has implemented a joint industry / AQIS ministerial taskforce to review and implement reforms to the delivery arrangements for the AQIS grain and seed export service.

This has arisen in line with the recommendations of the independent review of quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, One biosecurity: a working partnership (the Beale Review) that the 40 percent government contribution towards AQIS export certification functions lapsed as scheduled on 30 June 2009. 

New export fees and charges returning industry to full cost recovery commenced in December 2009, with rebates in place to assist exporters to transition to the new fees and charges. 

The joint grain industry / AQIS Ministerial Taskforce has been re-established and has finalised the work plan to implement the grain export industry reform agenda.

Grains Task Force Progress Report 13 August 2010  (PDF 125 KB)

 Taskforce members are drawn from the following organisations:

  • ABB Grain Ltd
  • Australian Cotton Seed Industry
  • Australian Grain Exporters Association
  • Australian Fodder Industry Association
  • Australian Nut Industry Council
  • Australian Oilseeds Federation
  • Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
  • Australian Seed Federation
  • AWB Ltd
  • Biosecurity Australia.
  • CBH Group
  • Grains Council of Australia
  • Grain Pool Pty Ltd
  • GrainCorp Operations
  • Grain Trade Australia
  • Pulse Australia
  • Sunrice

Geoff Honey, GTA CEO, is the Chairman of the Ministerial Taskforce and Gerard McMullen has been appointed as the Project Manager.

Funding and completion

There are two components of the Export Certification Reform Package for the grain export industry:

  1. $9.222 million for fee rebates to assist exporters to transition to the new fees and charges. This funding will be used to provide a 40 percent offset of the full cost impact on export industries to 30 June 2011. The rebates will be automatically applied to all invoiced fees and charges.
  2. $3.496 million for reform of the regulatory and export supply chain to 30 June 2011.

Reform package

A broad reform agenda was presented to Minister Burke in June 2009.  The Ministerial Taskforce has identified six key areas:

  1. Export Legislation
  2. Operation aspects of the export pathway including certification, inspection, capacity to provide service and approved arrangements
  3. Market Access
  4. Systems interfaces between industry and AQIS including export documentation
  5. Financial Analysis of various inspection models and existing AQIS fees and charges
  6. Communication pathways and industry interface with AQIS

Industry engagement

Industry representatives will be consulting with their member organisations. There will be a number of opportunities to provide input and feedback into the specific areas of reform.  If anyone has any issues or ideas they would like to put forward please email grainsmtf@daff.gov.au.

Further Information

AQIS website: Export Certification Reform Package

Export Certification Reforms Communiqués